Press Releases
|Published Date: 30-04-2025
Brunei Darussalam Central Bank Hosts Asean Taxonomy Board (ATB) Meeting and Webinar
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Brunei Darussalam Central Bank (BDCB), in collaboration with the Sustainable Finance Institute Asia (SFIA), hosted the ASEAN Taxonomy Board (ATB) Meeting on 29 April 2025 at the Rizqun International Hotel, Bandar Seri Begawan.
The meeting was chaired by Yang Mulia Awang Mardini bin Haji Eddie, Deputy Managing Director (Monetary Operations/Development and International), BDCB, and attended by members of the ATB. This included BDCB, Insurance Regulator of Cambodia, National Bank of Cambodia, Non-Bank Financial Services Authority of Cambodia, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia, Otoritas Jasa Keuangan, Indonesia, Bank of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Bank Negara Malaysia, Securities Commission Malaysia, Ministry of Planning and Finance of Myanmar, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines, Monetary Authority of Singapore, and Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand. Also in attendance were representatives from SFIA, as the host of the ATB, and the Asian Development Bank.
The meeting discussed, among other matters, the progress update on the development of Version 4 of the ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance [ASEAN Taxonomy], aimed at enhancing the ASEAN Taxonomy’s coverage, following the release of the finalised Version 3 on 20 December 2024.
Following the meeting, BDCB also hosted a webinar on the practical uses and latest developments of the ASEAN Taxonomy, in conjunction with the finalisation of Version 3 of the ASEAN Taxonomy.
In his keynote address, Yang Mulia Awang Mardini bin Haji Eddie, as the Chair of ATB, highlighted that interoperability and alignment are key development principles in the ASEAN Taxonomy architecture and design, enabling ASEAN Member States (AMS) to map their national taxonomies to either the Foundation Framework or Plus Standard of the ASEAN Taxonomy. He also shared that ASEAN Taxonomy Version 3 has been supplemented with additional Foundation Framework use cases for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and a Frequently Asked Questions document. Furthermore, he emphasised the importance of the webinar as a platform to explore the practical uses of the ASEAN Taxonomy, providing insights into recent developments in the sustainable finance landscape across ASEAN and how national and regional efforts are being aligned through the taxonomy.
The webinar proceeded with a presentation by Mr. Khairul Ridzwan, Alternate ATB Board Member and General Manager of International Affairs at the Securities Commission Malaysia, who provided an introduction to ASEAN Taxonomy Version 3. The event also featured a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Eugene Wong, Chief Executive Officer of SFIA, with Ms. Fonthip Yuthaseree from the Asian Development Bank, and Mr. Thomas Leonard and Mr. Jerus D’Silva, both from DNV, as panellists. The panel discussed practical use cases related to the implementation of the ASEAN Taxonomy.
The webinar also included a discussion on recent developments on national taxonomy initiatives, with a focus on Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand, and how these national taxonomies are being aligned with the ASEAN Taxonomy. Moderated by Mr. Khairul Ridzwan, the session’s panellists included Mr. Jarot Suroyo, Deputy Director of Sustainable Finance at Otoritas Jasa Keuangan, Indonesia; Mr. Thawatchai Pittayasophon, Deputy Secretary-General of Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand; and Atty. Emma Valencia, Assistant Director of Markets and Securities Regulation Department at the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines.
In addition to the ATB members, the webinar also saw virtual participation from representatives of ASEAN sectoral bodies, international organisations, regional and local industries, intermediaries, and members of the public.
